I’m feeling blessed. Blessed with the opportunity to pour my creative juices into writing and photographing a cookbook, blessed with all the summer bounty of vegetables and fruit. I’m completely consumed by all of it, as well as an upcoming life event.
My older son is going off to college soon, and I’m savoring every moment I have with him. While he’s not going far in the geographical sense, he is taking a giant leap out the door and into a different world, not quite the “real” world, but a demanding one for sure.
We just need to iron out a few things related to his health, and the rest is in his hands. It’ll be good for him, and for me. I’m putting aside my mental cautions so that the focus is on the present, not on what has happened, or what could happen. It’s a wide-open field, and it’s his to explore. I’m just paying the cell phone bill so I know he has a way to reach us.
I’m so confident that everything is going to go well that, after we make the drop off to the college dorm, I’m taking off for a photography workshop in Italy. The timing just worked out that way. So much going on, and so much to be happy about.
As for this scone recipe, it is very basic, with a sweet citris-ginger overtone. It’s just waiting for some jam, jelly, or preserves to complete the flavor. It’s also dairy-free—a departure from my cherry and walnut-raisin scones, which use yogurt and are egg-free.
Among the more seasonal blessings is the great taste of all the fruit this summer. I’m a berry girl first and foremost, but I never forget about all the other amazing other fruits piled high in the markets right now. I’ve included a recipe using juicy apricots, but you could easily swap in nectarines, plums, or any variations of these juicy treats. I like using apricots because I don’t have to remove the skins before cooking.
Lemon Ginger Scones
You can make the scones out of one ball of dough; I prefer to make two balls of dough, flatten each one, and then bake them as mini-scones. If you do it this way, the scones may be ready a few minutes earlier, so keep an eye on them. The scones get soft after a day, so to firm them up a bit you can toast them or reheat them for a few minutes.Ingredients
- 2 cups of blanched almond flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons of lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon of fresh, grated ginger
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons of honey (or other sweetener)
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F/190°C.
- Blend the almond flour, salt, and baking soda together, and then add the lemon zest, ginger, egg, and honey. Blend well.
- The batter will be sticky and thick. Roll it into a ball and place it on parchment paper or a non-stick surface.
- Flatten the ball of dough into a large circle, or two circles, and slice the dough into triangular pieces. I use a cold knife to slice the scones.
- Place the scones and parchment paper (or a non-stick mat) on the baking sheet and separate the scones so they’re about an inch or so apart.
- Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the scones are browned on the outside.
- Cool the scones and spread (or drizzle) some lemon glaze (recipe below) on top of each scone.
- Store in a sealed container or the refrigerator.
Lemon Glaze
This is more of a glaze than an icing when warmed, but you can also spread it on the scones when it is in a creamy state at room temperature. For a shinier glaze, warm the mixture for just a moment so that the coconut oil melts a bit.- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (or vegetable shortening)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
Cream the honey and coconut oil together in a small bowl with a spoon. Add the lemon juice and blend well. If your glaze has little white lumps in it (like mine did), you can warm it for a moment and then strain the melted glaze to separate the white lumps. You’ll need to cool it to room temperature to get it back to the creamy state.
Apricot Jam
This recipe is very easy to double or triple. I prefer to freeze my jam, but if you’re planning on canning this jam, you’ll want to sterilize your jars and lids before adding the hot jam to them, and then sterilize the sealed jars in boiling water for about 15 minutes. If you prefer, you can leave out the ginger for straight-up apricot jam. To prevent the jars from cracking when freezing them, leave about 1/2 inch of space on the top and let them cool before placing them in the freezer.Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups of very soft apricots (about 5 apricots), diced, pit removed (keep the skin on)
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup of honey (or other sweetener)
- 1/4 teaspoon of fresh, grated ginger
Method
- Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a steady, low boil.
- Boil for about 20 minutes, or until the consistency is fairly thick, stirring occasionally so the bottom doesn’t burn.
- Cool, add to jars, seal tightly, and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to a year.
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Yes please!!! Yum!
Do you have any problems freezing glass?
Mine seem to break.
Not yet. I did with chicken stock, but I was filling the jar too high.
Thanks so much – this recipe is going in my cookbook! I made this for breakfast today and it was hard to stop at one….so I didn’t!
thanks for the feedback. maybe I’ll put it in my cook book
I wanted to let you know it gets easier sending kids off. Last year I sent my 2nd daughter to school 4 hours away, eating gluten free and I worried…for about two weeks. It gets better with a little time. The trip to Italy sounds exciting, have fun! Oh and the scones look scrumptious, I will be trying them soon.
thanks, Karen! Best wishes, Erica
I can’t wait to try these scones. The photography workshop sounds like fun. And in Italy! I hope it’s a blast!
thanks! yes, Italy has been on my list for quite a while
Argh…. I am teaching Squam June, September and October (NC) but won’t get to see you at the one in Italy! It will be quite different then the one here in Seattle!
Have a blast!
Thanks Helene! I’m so glad you came to Seattle. I’m getting the best food styling and photography crash course I could hope for. Can’t wait for the final day!
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Yesterday I made strawberry jam using your apricot recipe. Awesome results. It was delicious!